- Yamamoto inked a massive 12-year, $325 million deal with LA this offseason
- The Dodgers believe he can develop into an ace of a strong big league rotation
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out three batters in two scoreless innings in his spring training debut against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
Yamamoto gave some insight into why the Dodgers believe the Japanese right-hander can become an ace in a big league rotation.
The 25-year-old right-hander first struck out Rangers All-Star Marcus Semien on six pitches, then allowed a single from Evan Carter before Wyatt Langford grounded out an inning-ending double play.
Yamamoto started Game 2 against the reigning World Series champions by striking out Nathaniel Lowe in three throws and knocking Jonah Heim out of the game with a flyout to left. Working with a long, deliberate windup attempt and a fastball that hovered in the mid-90s, Yamamoto ended his outing by striking out Leody Taveras on four pitches.
He threw 16 of 19 pitches for strikes, displaying the impeccable command that made him a star in Japan.
LA Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out three batters in his spring training debut
Yamamoto (left) and DH Shohei Ohtani both signed large contracts with LA this year
Lowe and Taveras made particularly weak swings on the third shot, highlighting Yamamoto's dominance.
Yamamoto was the least-noticed part of a $1 billion offseason investment by the Dodgers in two Japanese stars.
Los Angeles signed Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million, 10-year contract in December, while Yamamoto completed his $325 million, 12-week contract a few weeks later.
Ohtani played six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Angels, winning two AL MVP awards and making three All-Star teams. Yamamoto is making his U.S. debut this season, although his recent performances in Japan have been phenomenal.
At 5-foot-10, Yamamoto has been Japan's most dominant pitcher in recent seasons, with a record of 16-6 and a 1.21 ERA for the Orix Buffaloes in 2023. He has a career ERA of 1 in Japan .72 in nearly 1,000 innings. His six-pitch repertoire includes a reliable splitter, an effective four-seam fastball and a vicious curveball.
The Dodgers believe he has the talent to become a star in the United States and that his presence will be crucial in 2024 while Ohtani – a rare two-way star – recovers from an elbow injury. Ohtani will strike in 2024 but is not expected to pitch until 2025.